Kolkata avalanche: PM Modi announces compensation as Murmu, Amit Shah, Mamata Banerjee express grief over tragedy | Today’s news
Political leaders across party lines have expressed grief after a stampede at a Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata left at least 17 dead and several others injured on Saturday, October 17.
Political leaders express grief over the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The tragedy unfolded amid heavy rain and overcrowding in a north Kolkata pandal on Saptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja. Calcutta police said at least 25 people were injured and taken to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
PM Modi announces financial aid
PM Modi expressed grief over the stampede in a post on X, condoled the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He added that the local administration provides all possible assistance to the affected.
The prime minister also announced an ex-gratia payment ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased person. They get hurt ₹50,000.
President Murmu expresses his condolences
President Droupadi Murmu described the death at the Durga Puja pandal as extremely heartbreaking. She expressed her deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Her message came as emergency services and hospital staff continued to respond to the incident.
Amit Shah postpones Bengali programmes
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident and said he had spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvenda Adhikari. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Shah also postponed his scheduled programs in West Bengal to Sunday, saying he would visit a hospital to meet the injured. He said the administration is making sure that medical help is available to them.
Mamata Banerjee expresses shock
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the stampede at the Chorbagan Puja pandal. In a post on X, she prayed to Maa Durga for the speedy recovery of the injured and for their families to find strength and courage during the difficult time.
Nitin Nabin also reacts
BJP National President Nitin Nabin expressed anguish over the loss of life, prayed for peace for the deceased and speedy recovery for the injured. He also said that the administration is extending all possible assistance to the affected.
What happened
At least 17 people were confirmed dead and another 25 injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday night, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said. The incident took place around 7.40 pm amid heavy rain and a large crowd as visitors rushed towards the pandal.
The injured were taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, while the police, fire brigade and disaster management teams were deployed for rescue operations. The pandal was subsequently closed to visitors as authorities began investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
